My first aquarium need opinions...

[bamaborn81]

I have found my first aquarium. I would like to know what others think.
Reef Ready Aquarium Model 50R 36x15x20
Also I am going sump opinions welcome also.
Saltwater and Reef Aquarium Supplies - Bulk Reef Supplyny input is great. Thanks!

Keep calm and fish on!

 

[jservedio]

Those pre-made sumps are really nice - but really, really expensive. You can simply go out and buy a 20g Aqueon glass aquarium from Petco for $20 and going to Home Depot and buying a couple sheets of 1/8" glass (or acrylic) and putting 3 baffles in to give you a fixed height water level for your skimmer and a return chamber that won't get micro bubbles. Why spend that much money on a sump you are never going to see that is stuffed under your tank? They are functionally no better, at all, than a DIY one.

$200-$340 can be spent WAY better than on a sump - you can buy a great skimmer for that price and probably have enough left over to get a Carbon or GFO reactor. Or - put that into your lights.

 

[jservedio]

Here is a picture of the sump I built for my 20g Tall reef that is a 10g Aqueon I got for $9.99 from Petco during their 1g/$1 sale:

Functions exactly the same as the one you have and I only spent $28 dollars on it. $10 for the tank, $12 for the acrylic, and another $6 for the tube of GE Silicone I (NOT silicone II - it has anti-mildew in it which is bad for aquariums). If you don't have a caulk gun you will have to budget another $6-10. Still leaves you at a minimum $160 to spend on more important stuff.

 

[bamaborn81]

Cool, thanks for your input. I still need to learn about how the sump works. I would like to try and put one together like you said. Is there a video I can watch to see how to put it together? Also I read where you can grow stuff like brine shrimp or copepods. Could this be done in the sump also?

 

[fyrfytr]

Would love more info about your 10gal setup. I have a 36gal bowfront that I put a 10gal under it before I filled it up, just sitting empty holding tank stuff now. Wasn't really sure how to make a decient sump/fuge out of a small 10gal

 

[bamaborn81]

Ok I have my aquarium and now its time to put the guts together. This will be a reef tank 50gal. I am looking at a Protein Skimmer: Coralife Super Skimmers pump: Supreme Mag Drivend a UV Sterilizer: Aqua Ultraviolet Classic Seriesny more parts or other suggestions? Would be great!